Safety razor



F. LEHMANN SAFETY RAZOR May 25,' 1937.

Filed Feb. 3, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 25, 1937. F. LEHMANN Y SAFETY RAZOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fiied Feb. 8, 193e Patented May 255, 1937 site TENT OFMQE Application February 3, 1936, Serial No. 62,195 In Germany February 15, 1935 17 Claims.

The many razors known hitherto have the fault as regards their manipulation that after each time of use they have to be taken to pieces, cleaned, dried and then be put together again for further use. They have however the further, perhaps still greater, fault that the blades have to be changed from time to time owing to wear of the edges. There are it is true a number of re-honing devices for honing dulled razor blades.

Apart from the fact that such devices are liable to wear away the blades to an excessive degree, they cannot effect accurate and sharp honing, if only for the reason that the honing angle pr duced on the blade with the device is entirely diierent from the angle produced by the original honing in the factory. It is therefore of great advantage that the blades can be honed without being removed from the razor. Diiierent constructions of such kind are known, but the 2 arrangement of their honing device does not give satisfactory honing oi the blades on both sides at the desired original angle.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these faults. It relates to a safety razor L.) which is characterized by the blade being given in its seat in the razor itself, a circulating honing motion with respect to separate, comb-form honing jaws, adapted to hone the blade edge simultaneously on both sides. Advantageously these o jaws are also mounted in the razor itself, for which purpose the head part of the latter can be made as a casing in which the jaws are spring borne. The necessary circulating movement of the blade, also mounted and slidable in this casing, for honing it on the jaws, can be imparted to it by the aid of hand or motor actuated operating means. The honing jaws can however also be mounted outside the razor. it is possible for eX- ample to mount them on a spring mounting in a no carrier entirely separate from the razor, the carrier being advantageously secured in a container adapted to receive a uid honing medium.

Whether the jaws are mounted in the razor itself or outside it, is of minor importance. 'Ihe ai; essence of the present invention lies in the feature that the blade can make the honing movement in its seat in the razor with respect to comb-like, simultaneously on both sides acting, honing jaws, whereby besides the convenience for the user a A50 rapid and good honing on both sides of the blade (Cl. Bil-36) at each honing operation are honed at the same angle, and-if the blade is honed in the razor itselfalways retain their original edge. The direct result of such precision honing is extremely small wearing away of the blade.

Some examples embodying the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a razor with incorporated honing means;

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line I-I of l0 Figure l;

Figure 3 is a side view corresponding to Figlire 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the razor with the cover plate removed; 15

Figure 5 is an under-view of the cover plate;

Figure 6 shows a plan View of a leaf spring according to the invention;

Fig. Sa shows an end View of the spring shown in Fig. 6; 20

Figure 7 shows one comb-like honing jaw of the razor;

Figure 8 is a cross section on an enlarged scale, of the head part of the razor shown in Figure 1;

Figure 9 shows a hand crank for use with the 25 razor shown in Figure l;

Figure 10 shows a container adapted to receive a iiuid honing medium, in which as the figure shows, the razor shown in Figure l is put when not in use; 30

Figure ll is a cross section similar to Figure 2, but through the head part of a razor with honing means having a blade with only a single edge;

Figure 12 shows the blade used in the razor 3u of Figure 1l;

Figures 13, i4 and l5 show details of a motor driven razor with honing means;

Figure 16 shows a further example, partly in section, in which the honing jaws are arranged in a carrier completely separate from the actual razor, which carrier in turn is screwed fast to the bottom of a container serving to receive a fluid honing medium;

Figure 17 is a plan view of Figure 16; 45

Figures 18 and 19 show blades with particular aperture arrangements, and

Figure 20 shows an electric motor arrangement within the razor handle for the honing means.

The head part oi` the razor with honing means shown in Figure lis constructed as a casing comprising a body 2 screwed upon a hollow handle I and a cover 3 secured on the body as by screws.

As shown in Figure 1 a driving shaft 4 is ro- 55 tatably borne within the handle l'. rEhe hand crank Lie shown in Figure 9 serves for rotating the shaft il. On the end of the shaft t projecting into the body 2, a driving toothed wheel 5 is fast, which meshes with two toothed wheels B borne rotatably in the bottom of the body 2 on opposite sides of wheel 5 (see Figure 4). Each of the wheels i3 carries an upwardly projecting crank pin 'i'. rfhese pins 'i project through two correspending apertures in a two-edged blade 3 whose edges bear on comb-like honing jaws 9, as is best seen in Figure 8. One of these jaws 9 is shown in Figure '7, while Figure 6 shows a bowed leaf spring it whose purpose will now be described. In the assembled condition of the razor two such leaf springs i@ serve as underlays for the jaws 9 and the springs are so dimensioned that during the honing operation yet to be described the jaws 9 can yield resiliently under the downward pressure of the blade. As appears from Figure 5, the cover 3 also has comb-like honing jaw parts 32 corresponding with the jaws 9, and both on these parts 3e and on the jaws 9 the teeth formed by the comb-like structure are provided on their working faces with honing surfaces of such inclination that the latter in the opposed operative positions of the parts 3 and S in which the teeth of part Sintermesh with those of part 9 (Figure 3) form an angle corresponding with the desired edge angle of the blade 8, as is best seen on the left hand side of Figure 8.

To hone the blade 8 the shaft i is rotated by means of the crank handle lia. This results in the blade being given a circulating movement by the pins in such a manner that the two edges of the blade are moved alternately between the corresponding honing jaw pairs 9, Se (left and right respectively in Figure 8) until they project from the casing formed by parts 2 and 3 by an amount corresponding to the greatest lateral displacement of the pins 'i and are then withdrawn into the casing. During the cycle which is repeated at each revolution of the crank, the edges of the circulating blade press iirst the one, then the other of the two jaws 9 downwardly against the spring pressure as indicated above and are uniformly honed over their whole length.

In Figures 2 and 3, i! indicates a set screw by which the shaft d and with it the parts 5, 6 and l can be held fast after each honing operation, in a position which corresponds with a suitable position ofthe blade 8 for shaving. Further, l2 indicates the usual safety razor comb guard by which the razor is supported against the skin during shaving.

The above described razor with honing means can be protected after use in a container i3 holding a fluid honing medium, for example glycerine, in the manner shown in Figure 10. As shown in dotted lines in this figure, the container i3 has internally in two opposite side walls, recesses isa of the form shown into which the head part of the razor slides. rfhe two cover parts of the container, whose open position is shown by dotand-dash lines, form in the closed position an opening corresponding with the diameter of the handle i and serve as lateral supports for the handle i projecting out of the container i3. Advantageously the blade 3 is honed when the razor is immersed in the glycerine bath in the manner shown, in order that the honing operation may be advantageously influenced by the glycerine serving as a lubricant.

Figure l1 illustrates a modied construction of the razor with honing means, a single edged blade as shown in Figure 12 being used in this case. Accordingly the razor has only one pair of honing jaws (left hand side in Figure 11) the under jaw in contradistinction to the razor of Figure l being supported on small helical springs. Otherwise the construction of this razor is similar to that above described so that any further description is unnecessary.

Figures 13, 14 and 15 illustrate details of a razor whose construction is fundamentally the same as that of Figures l-li, but whose blade in addition to the circulating honing motion can also execute a rapid reciprocating motion to facilitate shaving. Such a razor is advantageously motor driven and best say by a small electric motor accommodated in the handle, as shown for example in Figure 20, wherein such motor is diagrammatically indicated at 3Q. The adjustment of the razor to enable either circulating or a reciprocating motion to be imparted to the blade it, is effected by means of a slidable member l5 mounted between the casing body 2 and the cover 3, whose shape is shown in Figure 14. rlhe slider i5 is coupled to the blade ld by a slot and screw connection in such a way that the blade can be slid longitudinally with respect to the slider l5. The pins i of driving mechanism as described above with reference to Figures 1-10, here project through two oval apertures ida in the blade lll and in the relative position of the parts id and i5 shown, mesh with corresponding fork shaped driving parts ita of the slider i5. The result is that during the driving movement of the pins l', a circulating movement is imparted to the slider i5 and the blade iii coupled thereto, as is desired for honing the blade. 1f however the user desires a reciprocating movement which will facilitate shaving to be imparted to the blade, he` moves the slider l5 to the left in Figure ld in such a way that two projections i on the underside or the slider engage in one or other of two sets of corresponding recesses 16a (according to which edge of the blade the user wishes to employ), these recesses 56a being provided in a pair-like arrangement in the two opposite frontal sides of the casing body 2 of the razor (Figure 15).

The immediate result is that the driving parts I5EL of the slider i'are moved clear cf the pins l so that the latter impart motion direct to the blade. It is to be noted however that owing to the oval shape of the apertures in the blade is this only applies to a certain component of the path of the: pins 7, namely that component which imparts a reciprocating motion to the blade in the direction of its length.

It is naturally also possible. to provide means as just described for imparting a reciprocating motion to the blade to a razor of the construction shown in Figure 11. Figure 12 shows the blade 8a appertaining to this razor.

The example shown in Figures 16 and 17 differs from that shown in` Figures 1-10 mainly in the honing jaws here being provided outside the actual razor. These comb-like honing jaws shown in Figures 16 and 17 Whose opposed arrangement is similar to that in the example first described, are so movably mounted in a suitable carrier I8 that they tend to approach one an.- ther under the action of helical springs i9, the facing honing surfaces, here again forming an angle corresponding with the desired angle of the blade to be honed. As appears from Figure 16 the carrier i8 is here screwed to the bottom of a container 20 which in this case also may receive say glycerine.

As in Figure 10 the container 20 has two opposite recesses 2l the lower parts of which form a seat for the head of the actual razor, on which the razor immersed in the glycerine bath is pressed in the manner indicated in Figure 16 by the slotted and sprung cover 2lia of the container 20, held closed say by a toggle fastening and a pin 22 provided in the handle of the razor. The driving mechanism for imparting the circulating movement to the blade 8b is similar in its construction to that in the example according to Figures 1-10, but in this case the provision. of the honing jaws outside the actual razor requires a substantial increase in the throw of the crank pins extending through the apertures inv the blade 8b. To enable the blade to be b-rought into a symmetrical position with respect to the head of the razor notwithstanding the large throw of the driving pins, the apertures: 2t in the blade 8b could, as shown in Figure 18, be longitudinally out of centre. This would result however in an unsymmetrical arrangement of the driving mechanism, because the parts driving the blade must naturally lie exactly in the centre of the two apertures in the blade. This undesirable result can be avoided by the use of a blade 8c of the construction shown in Figure 19. The blade has two elongated apertures 2 so that it can be slid in one direction relative to they driving pins for honing and in the other direction into a symmetrical position with respect to the head of the razor for shaving, the blade being held in the one or the other position by means of a spring 28 mounted on it and shown in Figure 19.

To hone the blade in the razor just described, the latter is guided into the container 2D until it reaches the. position shown in Figure 16, the lid closed and held by the toggle fastening. In this position of the razor the blade lies in exact register with the pairs of honing jaws. By rotating the crank 4a (Figure 9) after setting it on the shaft of the razor, the blade is given a circulating movement and alternately carried towards one and the other pair of honing jaws and the edges moved between the corresponding pairs of honing jaws which are resiliently forced apart by the blade, until the edges are again sharp.

In order that the blade 8c may always be brought to rest exactly in the centre of the head, that is in the correct position for shaving, and so that it cannot be damaged by the honing jaws i7 or the carrier i3, during removal of the razor from the iiuid container, a mark 25 is provided both on the upper end of the handle l of the razor and another on the crank Ga by which the honing is eifected by hand. On the last revolution of the handle in honing, care must be taken that the marks exactly register, whereby the correct position of the blade 8 for shaving, and for the razor to be removed from the container 23 without damage to the blade, is ensured.

Summarizing, the razors described have the following advantages.

(l) Owing to the described opposed arrangement of the comb-like honing jaws 9, 3EL or Il', the blade can be honed toa higher degree of fineness than was' hitherto possible. The blade cuts all the better than if honed in so-me other way.

(2) Each r-e-honing of the blade takes place in the razor itself or in the honing device thereof, in which the original fine honing was effected, so that the sharpness of the blade is always maintained to the original degree.

(3) The honing of the blade takes place in an oily bath, therefore with the lowest coefficient of friction, whereby the greatest sharpness and neness of the blade is ensured.

(4) The razor does not need to be taken to pieces before and after shaving, not to be cleaned, nor to be dried, because it is simply rinsed in water and after the adhering water has been shaken oif, it is immersed in the lubricant bath without drying, whereupon the blade can be honed With a few turns of the crank in the closed, dust excluding container I3 or 20. The preparation of the razor therefore takes place in a very short time.

(5) The razor blade never needs to be taken in the hand; it always remains in the razor and owing to its exact and fine honing is subjected to extremely slight wear.

(6) Owing to its long useful life the blade itself can be made of the most expensive and nest alloy steel, which was not possible hitherto because even such an expensive blade could not in any case be given its original sharpness with the usual re-honing devices and therefore would wear away too rapidly.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a safety razor, means therein for imparting to the blade a circulating movement in its seat, and a pair of opposed comblike honing jaws, the teeth on one jaw opposing the interstices of the other jaw, said jaws being arranged in such relation to said blade as to hone the cutting edge thereof on both sides during said circulating movement.

2. In a safety razor the combination of head, a blade mounted in said head, a pair of opposed comb-like honing jaws adjacent the cutting edge of said blade and spreadably mounted in said head, the teeth on one of said jaws being opposed to the interstices of the other jaw, spring means urging said jaws together, and means for giving said blade a circulating movement during which the cutting edge thereof passes between and is honed by said jaws.

3. In a safety razor the combination of a head in the form of a casing, a cover on said casing, a blade mounted between said casing and said cover, a comb-like honing jaw fast upon said cover, a second comb-like honing jaw yieldably mounted opposite said first jaw in said casing, said two comb-like jaws being located adjacent the cutting edge of said blade, and means for giving said blade a circulating movement during which the cutting edge thereof passes between and is honed by said jaws.

4. 'I'he combination of a safety razor, a container for lubricant adapted to receive the head of said razor, means in said razor for giving the blade a circulating movement in its seat, and a pair of opposed spreadably mounted comb-like honing jaws adjacent the cutting edge of said blade in such position that said blade edge enters between and is honed by said jaws during said circulating movement.

5. The combination of a safety razor, a container for lubricant adapted to receive the head of said razor, means in said razor for giving the blade a circulating movement in its seat, and a pair of opposed spreadably mounted comb-like honing jaws adjacent the cutting edge of said blade in such position that said blade edge enters between and is honed by said jaws during said circulating movement, said jaws being mounted in a carrier and said carrier secured in said container.

6. The combination of a safety razor, a container for lubricant adapted to receive the head of said razor, means in said razor for giving the blade a circulating movement in its seat, and a pair of opposed spreadably mounted comb-like honing jaws adjacent the cutting edge of said blade in such position that said blade edge enters between and is honed byl said jaws during said circulating movement, said container having a seat for the head of said razor, and a lid adapted to hold said razor with its head in said seat.

'7. The combination of a safety razor, a container for lubricant adapted to receive the head of said razor, means in said razor for giving the blade a circulating movement in its seat, and a pair of opposed spreadably mounted comb-like honing jaws adjacent the cutting edge of said blade in such position that said blade edge enters between and is honed by said jaws during said circulating movement, said container having a seat for the head of said razor, and a lid adapted to hold said razor with its head pressed against said seat, and said jaws being mounted in a carrier and said carrier secured in said container.

8. The combination of a safety razor, means in said razor for imparting to the blade a circulating movement in its seat, a pair of opposed spreadable comb-like honing jaws with their comb teeth intermeshing mounted adjacent the cutting edge of said blade so that said blade edge enters between and is honed by said jaws during *said circulating movement, and spring means urging said jaws together.

9. The combination of a safety razor, means in said razor for imparting to the blade a circulating movement in its seat, a pair of opposed spreadable comb-like honing jaws with their comb teeth intermeshing mounted adjacent the cutting edge of said blade so that said blade edge enters between and is honed by said jaws during said circulating movement, and spring means urging said jaws together, the honing surfaces 'of said jaws being inclined at an angle to one another equal to the edge angle of the blade.

10. In a safety razor, the combination of a head, a blade movably mounted in said head, a pair of opposed comb-like honing jaws also mounted therein, the teeth on one of said jaws opposing the interstices of the other of said jaws, a mechanism in said head for imparting a circulating movement to said blade in its own plane of and meshing with said driving toothed wheel', and a crank pin on each said driven wheel projecting into one of said apertures in said blade.

l2. In a safety razor, the combination of a head, comb-like honing jaws, a blade having a pair of apertures therein and movable in its own plane in said head with respect to said jaws, a hollow handle, a driving shaft within said handle projecting into said head, a driving toothed wheel fast on the end of said shaft within said head, a pair of equal driven toothed wheels rotatably mounted in said head on opposite sides of and meshing with said driving toothed wheel, and a crank pin on each said driven wheel projecting into one of said apertures in said blade, a set screw beingprovided in said handle to enable said shaft to be locked.

13. In a safety razor with honing means the combination of a mechanism for giving the blade a circulating movement in its own plane for honing purposes and a mechanism for giving the blade a reciprocating movement parallel with its cutting edge.

i4. In a safety razor with honing means the combination of a head, a pair of wheels rotatably borne Ain said head, means for rotating said wheels in synchronism, a crank pin on each said wheel, a slider in said head movable from a position in which it is keyed to said head into a position in which it is free to move in its own pla-ne but is in driving connection with said crank pins, a blade having a pair of transverse oval apertures therein fitting over said crank pins, and a sliding connection between said blade and said slider.

l5. In a safety razor the combination of a blade movable in its own plane mounted in said razor, comb-like honing jaws also mounted therein, means for imparting a circulating movement to said blade with respect to said jaws, and means for enabling said blade to be adjusted 1ongitudinally with respect to said movement imparting means.

16. In a safety razor with'honing means the combination of a head, a pair of wheels rotatably mounted in said head, means for rotating said wheels in synchronism, a crank pin on each wheel, a blade having a pair of elongated apertures movably mounted in said head with the apertures one over each of said crank pins, and spring means on said blade enabling the blade to be retained in either of two positions with respect to said crank pins.

17. In a safety razor, the combination of a head, a blade mounted therein, a pair of opposed comb-like honing jaws also arranged therein and means for producing a relative movement between said blade and honing jaws so as to hone the cutting edge of said blade on both sides thereof, the teeth on each of said jaws opposing the interstices between the teeth of the other jaws.

FRANZ LEHMANN. 

